January 27th, 2010 by Acuhealer

In the western model of medicine, a cold is transmitted from person to person through a virus or bacteria.  This leaves us with the feeling that we are always “exposed” and have no means of self defense.  In the Traditional Chinese Medicine model, we can do things to prevent and release disease.  This is because disease can only manifest in the correct climate.  Therefore, if our immune systems are healthy, we will be much less likely to get sick.  This explains why some people get colds twice a season while others get colds very rarely.

The immune system is managed by the nervous system.  The immune system can be impaired by what’s called Allostatic Load.  Allostatis is our body’s ability to maintain balance when under stress.  Thus, Allostatic Load is our bodies immune response to stress. When our body ‘fights’ off’ an illness, it creates an acute stress situation.  Acute stress actually helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed. Acute stress actually strengthens our immune system.  It is chronic stress that impairs our immune system.  Chronic stress comes from overwork, lack of sleep/exercise, poor diet, etc.  Acupuncture actually causes acute stress by creating tiny sterile wounds all along the body’s surface.  As mentioned, acute stress helps the immune system handle a pathogen by causing immune cells to move out of the bloodstream and into tissues where they are needed.  Acupuncture also “resets” the Allostatic Load.  After acupuncture, the body is relieved from acute & chronic stress and regains its ability to recognize and respond to pathogens. Read the rest of this entry »

January 27th, 2010 by Acuhealer

The thought of meditation often brings cringes of resistance and images uncomfortably sitting, legs crossed, in a still position for long periods of time.  Most people resist the idea of meditation because they cannot imagine themselves slowing down.

We live in a world that is extremely fast-paced. Most of our daily actions and activity support us in moving even faster. Television, computers, cell phones, text messaging, emails and instant messages overload us with information; keeping us connected to the world 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  Much of the information is challenging  – news of war, earthquakes, crime and scandals become difficult to hear.  We hate it, we fear it – yet we are drawn to and often forced to listen.  Most of us seek peace and harmony. We often feel this is lacking in our lives. We strive to be happy yet few of us attain this.  Individual distress and tensions combine to create stress in society. Meditation can provide the respite one needs.
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January 27th, 2010 by Acuhealer

I recently attended a symposium conducted by the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan. This two day symposium was dedicated to updating physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants as well as a host of integrated medicine practitioners on research and successes of incorporating integrated medicine in primary care.  It was very exciting for me to look at the audience and see over 200 medical professional gather together to learn how they can incorporate integrated medicine in their medical practice.

Some of the highlights:

Dr. Robert Ivker of the Ivker Center for Respiratory Healing spoke of the “body as a self healing organism”,  He talked of the risk factors and causes of chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis.  He recommended natural antifungals such as Allicin and Candex for fungal sinusitis treatment and had a myriad of suggestions for treating allergic rhinitis including grape seed extract, Quercetin, Vitamin C and papaya enzymes.  He spoke of the importance of diet  (reducing dairy) and clean, moist air for  healing mucous membranes. Read the rest of this entry »

February 18th, 2009 by Acuhealer

This is a fabulous article posted in the Wall Street Journal recently. It is nice to see the Journal support alternative medicine and whole body choices for health and well being! We are excited to see this.

‘Alternative’ Medicine Is Mainstream

The evidence is mounting that diet and lifestyle are the best cures for our worst afflictions.
By DEEPAK CHOPRA , DEAN ORNISH , RUSTUM ROY and ANDREW WEIL
In mid-February, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and the Bravewell Collaborative are convening a “Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public.” This is a watershed in the evolution of integrative medicine, a holistic approach to health care that uses the best of conventional and alternative therapies such as meditation, yoga, acupuncture and herbal remedies. Many of these therapies are now scientifically documented to be not only medically effective but also cost effective.

President-elect Barack Obama and former Sen. Tom Daschle (the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services) understand that if we want to make affordable health care available to the 45 million Americans who do not have health insurance, then we need to address the fundamental causes of health and illness, and provide incentives for healthy ways of living rather than reimbursing only drugs and surgery.

Heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer and obesity account for 75% of health-care costs, and yet these are largely preventable and even reversible by changing diet and lifestyle. As Mr. Obama states in his health plan, unveiled during his campaign: “This nation is facing a true epidemic of chronic disease. An increasing number of Americans are suffering and dying needlessly from diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and HIV/AIDS, all of which can be delayed in onset if not prevented entirely.”
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